On June 6, 2024, I returned to the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Delhi with my parents for counseling session, hoping this time my voice would be heard. The session was led by Counsellor Ms. Saloni Prabhakar, who met with me alone. I came prepared, armed with an 18-page detailed statement I had carefully written and signed, outlining the abuse, captivity, and cybercrimes I’ve endured at the hands of my father, Ashish Jain. I handed it to Ms. Saloni for review, expecting her to take it seriously. Instead, she brushed it off, focusing on a medical prescription submitted by my father from Dr. Arushikha Singh at Jeevak Hospital, Firozabad, which apparently addressed my mental health. Ms. Saloni pointed out a note on the prescription stating it “should not be used for legal purposes,” undermining its validity, yet she still seemed swayed by my parents’ narrative.
I poured my heart out, detailing the violence including my father’s repeated threats to slash my throat with a knife and the cybercrimes, like accessing my bank accounts and seizing my devices. But Ms. Saloni’s response was maddeningly dismissive. She barely engaged with the gravity of my situation, instead asking about my childhood relationship with my father, as if that justified the abuse. When she spoke to my parents, she instantly believed their version of events, seemingly eager for me to comply with their control rather than address their actions. It felt like she saw me as the problem, not the victim.
The session ended with a frustrating conclusion. My case would be transferred to the Health Ministry, with my father to receive a call, and counseling sessions would continue in Firozabad. They acted as though something was wrong with me, suggesting I needed counseling despite the clear evidence of my father’s crimes. Apparently, his death threats and physical abuse, like beating me with broomsticks and metal rods until my eardrum was perforated, didn’t count in their eyes. I repeatedly requested legal representation from Ms. Saloni and Junior Technical Expert Mr. Manmohan Sharma, but they denied it each time.
Before leaving, I submitted my 18-page statement to the NCW, and a scanned copy was sent from one of their office to my email, jsurbhi20003@gmail.com. I received a stamped three-page receipt confirming they had my statement, a small but crucial piece of proof that my truth was documented, even if it felt ignored.
